Machine for punching and printing document cards

ABSTRACT

A document card punching and printing machine having a document card hopper, a punch station, a print station and a stacker for receiving the punched and printed cards. An electrically controlled pneumatic actuator moves pick rolls upwardly through the bottom of the hopper for moving the cards one at a time out of the hopper toward the punch station. The punch station includes card incrementing rolls; and a pair of pneumatic actuators, similar to the first actuator, control pressure rolls for causing the card to increment through the punch station and then to move out of the punch station. The punching mechanism includes a pair of electrically controlled pneumatic actuators for moving interposers in the punching mechanism into operative positions for punching. Each of the pneumatic actuators may be readily removed from the machine for easy replacement. The print station includes a plurality of print hammers cooperating with rotating print wheels disposed therebelow, and the print hammers are mounted on a swingable carriage so that the hammers and carriage may be readily lifted up for clearing any card jams in the print station.

United States Patent [191 Barna et al.

[ 1 June 5, 1973 [73] Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY.

[22] Filed: Mar. 27, 1972 [21] App1.No.: 238,028

[52] U.S. Cl ..234/1 14 [51] Int. Cl. ..G06k 1/02 [58] Field of Search ..234/l14116; 83/570, 571

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 961,754 6/1910 Cloak ..234/1l5 3,268,163 8/1966 Ehart ..234/l15 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 661,733 4/1963 Canada ..234/1 15 Primary ExaminerJ. M. Meister Attorney-Keith T. Bleuer, Carl W. Laumann, Jr.

and J. Jancin,.lr.

[57] ABSTRACT A document card punching and printing machine having a document card hopper, a punch station, a print station and a stacker for receiving the punched and printed cards. An electrically controlled pneumatic actuator moves pick rolls upwardly through the bottom of the hopper for moving the cards one at a time out of the hopper toward the punch station. The

punch station includes card incrementing rolls; and a pair of pneumatic actuators, similar to the first actuator, control pressure rolls for causing the card to increment through the punch station and then to move out of the punch station. The punching mechanism includes a pair of electrically controlled pneumatic actuators for moving interposers in the punching mechanism into operative positions for punching. Each of the pneumatic actuators may be readily removed from the machine for easy replacement. The print station includes a plurality of print hammers cooperating with rotating print wheels disposed therebelow, and the print hammers are mounted on a swingable carriage so that the hammers and carriage may be readily lifted up for clearing any card jams in the print station. A

' 6 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures SHEET 2 OF 9 PATENTEDJUH 5 I973 g :K $27.2 E

PAIENIEDJUH 5197a 3.737.097 SHEEIBUFQ I 7 PATENTEDJUH 5197a I 3.737.097

' SHEET 80F 9 FIG. 7

FIG. 70

PATENTEDJUH 5197s 3 737 097 SHEEI 70F 9 FIG.1O

PRINT I 64 AREA B K/ B A A 8 8 HER 4 4 No.1

A o A 8 a TIER 4 4 No.2

A A 8 8 TIER 4 4 N03 FIG. 11

' FIG. 12

PATENTEDJ'JH 5 1975 SHEET 8 OF PATENTEDJUH 5197a SHEET 9 [IF 9 MACHINE FOR PUNCHING AND PRINTING DOCUMENT CARDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to'a machine for punching and printing document cards and more particularly to a machine of this type which is pneumatically operated and electrically controlled.

Document card printing and punching machines have been previously proposed in which all of the moveable parts of the machines have been electrically operated. Such machines have functioned quite well; however, they do require high capacity electrical power supplies; and, in addition, they have not allowed easy replacement of the electrical operators, so that the machines have been relatively costly to service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved document card punching and printing machine in which the operators for controlling card movement and causing punching constitute pneumatic actuators which are electrically controlled.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide such actuators which are of such a type and have such connections to the remainder of the machine so that these actuators may be readily removed from the machine and replaced if necessary.

It is also an object to provide improved printing structure in such a machine having print hammers mounted on a swinging carriage disposed above rotating print wheels whereby the hammers and carriage may be swung upwardly for the purpose of relieving any card jams in the print station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a document card punching and printing machine embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 1a is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 1a1a of FIG. 1;

FIG. 1b is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line lblb of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG.

FIG. 2a is a sectional view taken on line 2a2a of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a punch unit in the machine;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 1 and showing the print unit of the machine;

FIG. 7a is a partial end view of an electric connector assembly constituting a part of the print unit;

FIG. 7b is an end view of the connector assembly taken on an enlarged scale from line 7b-7b of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the print unit;

FIG. 9 is a partial front elevational view of the print unit;

FIG. 10 is a face view of a document card usable in the machine;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11l1 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on line l2-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of an electrically controlled pneumatic actuator used in the machine;

FIG. 14 is a rear view of one of the component blocks of the pneumatic actuator;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken on line 15-15 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line l6l6 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a piston-solenoid sub-assembly which is a part of the punch unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 10 of the drawings, a document card 20 of the type adapted to be processed by the machine of the invention may be seen to have a print area on its upper portion and a punch area comprising tiers l, 2 and 3 on its lower portion. The card 20 may have punched openings 22 through it in the tiers, and these punched openings may be in 32 columns in each of the tiers. Each column may contain as many as six punched openings 22; and these may be labelled 1, 2, 4, 8, A and B. Therefore, the first 32 co]- umns of punchings 22 may lie in tier 1; columns 33 to 64 of the punchings 22 may lie in tier 2 and columns 65 and 96 of the punchings 22 may lie in tier 3. Various combinations of the punched openings 22 in each of the columns may represent an alpha-numeric character, such as A, B, C, 4, 5, 6, etc., and the print area may be divided into 96 sub-areas corresponding respectively with the 96 columns in tiers l, 2 and 3. The corresponding alpha-numeric characters forthe punchings 22 in the various columns in the three tiers may be printed in the sub-areas corresponding respectively with the punch columns in the three tiers. The machine of the present invention is adapted both to provide the punchings 22 in the 96 columns of the three tiers and also to print the sub-areas in the print area of the card 20.

The card processing machine of the invention comprises in general a document cardhopper 24, a punch assembly 26, a card printing assembly 28 and a stacker 30, all fixed with respect to a backbone or frame 31 of the machine (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

The hopper 24 has a bottom 32 and front and rear walls 34 and 36. The bottom 32 has an upwardly extending portion 38 and oblong openings 40 are provided in the portion 38. A document pick roll 42 is disposed in each of the openings 40, and the rolls 42 are fixed onto a shaft 44. The rolls 42 are movable upwardly through the openings 40 by virtue of being rotatably mounted in a vertically movable carrier 46 disposed beneath the bottom 42 of the hopper 24 and swingably mounted by means of a flexure spring 48 so as to provide this vertical movement of the rolls 42. An externally toothed pulley 50 is provided on one end of the shaft 44 for driving the pick rolls 42, and the shaft 44 is rotatably carried and mounted in the carrier 46 by any suitable bearing constructions.

The carrier 46 is raised by means of a pneumatic actuator 52. The actuator 52 is mounted in a fixture 54 that is fixed to the frame 31, and the fixture is U-shaped and grips the sides of the actuator 52 in such a manner that the actuator may be withdrawn from the fixture 54 for the purpose of replacement, if necessary.

The actuator 52 is formed (see FIGS. 13, 14 and 15) by a plate 56, a diaphragm 58, a plate 60, tape 62, a block 64, tape 66, a diaphragm 68, tape 70, a block 72, tape 74, and a plate 76 connected together in the order just mentioned into a single assembly. The plates 56 and 60 form a cavity 78, and a piston 80 is disposed in the cavity 78. The piston 80 carries a piston rod 82 extending through the block 56. The diaphragm 58 also extends through the cavity 78, as shown. Conduits 84 and 86 for carrying air under pressure are carried by the block 64. The conduit 84 is connected to a pair of small ports 88 and 90, and the conduit 86 is connected to a cavity 92 which is one of a series of such cavities in the block 64 including cavities 94, 96 and 98. A divider 100 is provided between cavities 92 and 94, and a divider 102 is provided between cavities 96 and 98. A solenoid 104 having electric terminals 105 is provided in a suitable central cavity in the block 64, and solenoid 104 has an axially movable armature 106 car rying a valve piece 108. When the armature 106 and valve piece 108 are at the limits of their upward movement in block 64, the port 88 is blocked, while the port 90 is blocked when the armature 106 and valve 108 are at the lowermost limits of their movement. A magnet 1 is disposed ina suitable recess in block 72, and this constitutes magnetic means for acting on the armature 106 for bringing it to its uppermost position.

The cavities 94 and 96 are connected with the cavity 78 by suitable openings in the block 64 and tape 62. The cavity 98 is connected with atmosphere by means of a recess 112 in the block 64. The tape 66, the diaphragm 68, the tape 70 and the block 72 are provided with the cutout portions as illustrated which are in alignment with certain portions of the block 64. In particular, the block 72 is provided with ports 114, 116, 118 and 120, and various of these ports are connected by means of channels 122 and 124 as shown. The ports 88 and 90 in block 64 are respectively connected with atmosphere by means of recesses 126 and 128 in block 64 so that when the valve piece 108 blocks the ports 88 and 90, air may freely discharge to atmosphere through the recesses 126 and 128.

A document card throat 130 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is provided at the forward end of the hopper 24 by means of a throat plate 132 fixed on the bottom of the hopper 24 and the lower downwardly tapering edge of a plate 134 on the front hopper wall 34. The clearance between the plates 132 and 134 is just slightly greater than the thickness of a document card 20, so that only one card 20 may pass at a time through the throat 130.

After leaving the hopper 24, a card 20 is propelled along its path by means of a drive roll 136, which is mounted on a support shaft 137, and a pressure roll 138. Drive roll 136 is suitably journaled with respect to the frame 31 by means of the shaft 137, and a pulley 140 and a smaller peripherally toothed pulley 142 are fixed on the shaft 137. A belt 143 connects the pulleys 142 and 50. The roller 138 is rotatably mounted in a roll carrier 144 which is mounted on the front wall 34 of the hopper 24 by means of a flexure spring 146.

A card registration rail 148 extends parallel with the backbone 31, and a card guide 150 (see FIG. 1b) is fixed with respect to the frame 31 opposite the guide 148. The guide 150 includes a spring 152 which acts on the edge of a card 20 and forces it against the guide 148.

The card is further propelled along its path of movement in the vicinity of the guide by means of a drive roll 154 mounted on a shaft 156 suitably journaled with respect to the frame 31. A drive belt 158 drives the shaft 156 and roll 154 from the shaft 137 for the roll 136. A pressure roll 160 is held with a force nip against the roll 154. The roll 160 is rotatably mounted in a carrier that is connected by means of a leaf spring 172 with a fixed part of the machine.

A document card detector 174 is provided adjacent the front wall 34 of the hopper 24 in the path of movement of cards 20 as they leave the hopper 24. The detector 174 comprises (see FIG. 1a) a lower frame portion 176 having an air jet 178 in its upper surface. A frame portion 180 is located above the frame portion 176 and has a jet receiving port 182 in alignment with the port 178. There is a space in between the portions 176 and 180 so that the cards 20 move between the portions 176 and 180 and block the port 182 with re spect to the port 178 when a card reaches these ports. A flexible diaphragm 184 is pneumatically connected by means of an air conduit 186 with the port 182, and a contact board 188 is located above the diaphragm 184, with a spacer 189 being located between the contact board 188 and diaphragm 184. A supporting plate 190 lies behind the board 188 and spacer 189. The contact board 188 may include suitable electrical contact structure, and the diaphragm 184 may have its upper surface coated with electrical conducting material so that when air is jetted from the port 178 to the port 182, the diaphragm 184 is bent upwardly under air pressure to make an electrical contact. Details of a suitable pneumatically actuated contact structure useable in the detector 174 are disclosed in Colglazier et al., US. Pat. No. 3,594,522, and therefore will not be repeated herein.

The punch assembly 28 (see FIG. 5) comprises a stripper 192 and a die 194 having a gap between them through which document cards 20 move. A plurality of punches 198 extend in a row through the stripper 192. A guide block 200 contains a plurality of interposers 202 slideably disposed therein, and a pair of permanent magnets 204 and 206 are disposed in the block 200 adjacent the interposers 202. Each of the interposers is provided with a longitudinal slot 208 therein, and a rod 210 extends through the slots 208 for holding the interposers in position. A pneumatically actuated piston 212 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) is provided for each of the interposers 202 for moving the interposer to operative position against the action of the adjacent magnet 204 or magnet 206.

The interposers 202 and punches 198 are reciprocated upwardly by means of a bail 214. The bail 214 is actuated from an eccentric 216 provided on a drive shaft 218. The shaft 218 is journaled with respect to the frame 31, and a drive pulley 220 is fixed on one end of the shaft 218. The bail 214 is provided with an upper edge 222 which cooperates with opposite abutment surfaces 224 of the interposers 202 for the purpose of reciprocating the interposers 202 and corresponding punches 198 upwardly, and the bail 214 is provided with an upper part 226 which overlies parts of the punches 198 for retracting the punches 198.

The punching unit as so far described is disclosed in the co-pending application of John W. Berkman, et al.,

Ser. No. 22,961, filed Mar. 26, 1970 now US. Pat. No.

3,659,779; and further details of the punch unit willtherefore not be disclosed herein.

Half of the pistons 212 are contained in a piston solenoid sub-assembly 228, and the other half of the pistons 212 are contained in a piston solenoid sub-assembly 230. Each of the sub-assemblies 228 and 230 contains an electric solenoid 232 for each of the pistons 212 of the sub-assembly, and each of the solenoids 232 actuates a valve 234 which opens and closes an associated air passage 236 leading to the corresponding piston 212. Each of the sub-assemblies 228 and 230 has a terminal card 238 (see FIGS. 11 and 12) of insulating material fixed to it carrying a conducting strip 240 connected to each of the solenoids 232 in the subassembly. The strip 238 is detachably received in a socket 242 fixed onto the block 200, and the socket 242 has a U-shaped contact 244 receiving and making contactwith each one of the contact strips 240. Each of the sub-assemblies 228 and 230 is detachably held fixed with respect to the block 200 by means of springs 246 which embrace fixed pins 248, one of the springs 246 and pins 248 being disposed one each end of the sub-assembly. A lever 250 is swingably mounted with respect to the sub-assembly 228 or 230 and is adapted to disengage the springs 246 on opposite ends of the sub-assembly with respect to the corresponding pins 248.

A document card incrementer roll 252 is rotatably carried by means of framework connected with the block 200 and the frame 31. An externally toothed pulley 254 (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) is fixed on the shaft 218, and the pulley 254 is in driving engagement with another pulley 256 of the same type by means of an internally toothed belt 258. The pulley 256 is drivingly connected to a drive disk 260 which carries a pin 262 on its face and has a raised rim 264 on its edge for a portion of its periphery. A slotted detent wheel 266 is drivingly connected with the roll 252, and the pm 262 is adapted to enter into the slots in the wheel 266 for driving the wheel 266 intermittently. The rim 264 enters slots provided in the rear surface of the wheel 266 for holding the wheel stationary while the pin 262 is out of engagement with a slot in the wheel 266. A detent roller 268 held by a flexure spring 270 is provided for entering the outer portions of the slots in the wheel 266 and is effective for holding the wheel 266 in its incremented positions. For additional details of the detent wheel 266 and the rest of the detent mechanism, the publication Geneva Mechanism by R. W. Luoma in the IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 14, N0. 3, Aug., 1971, page 797, may be referred to.

A pressure roll 272 (see FIG. 2) is located above the incrementer roll 252 and is carried by a lever 274 (see FIG. I) mounted on a flexure spring 276. A coil spring 278 holds the pressure roll 272 in retracted position, and an actuator 52A is provided for moving the pressure roll 272 into nipped relationship with respect to the roll 252. The actuator 52A is identical with the actuator 52 and is detachably mounted on a plate 280 fixed with respect to frame 31.

A card gate 282 is provided for holding a document card in position for punching. The gate 282 is rotatably mounted by means of a shaft 284 (see FIG. 16), and an electric coil 286 is disposed about shaft 284. The gate 282 is in magnetic sealing relationship with edges of stripper 192 and die 194 for stopping a card 20 passing there-between. Additional details of the gate 282 may be obtained from the publication Document Card Registration Gate" by P. M. Charlson and R. K. Turley, in the IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 14, No. 3, Aug., 1971, page 798; and, therefore, no additional details will be set forth herein.

In order that the action of the punches 198 may be properly timed, a pair of magnetic emitters 292 and 294 may be provided in connection with one or more disks 296 located on shaft 218 and axially spaced rearwardly with respect to the pulley 254.

A pair of document card drive rolls 298 and 300 are fixed on a shaft 302 that is journaled with respect to the frame 31 and has a drive pulley 304 fixed to the shaft 302 at its rear end. A pressure roll 306 is disposed above the roll 300, and the roll 306 is carried by a leaf spring 308 that holds it is nipped relationship with respect to the roll 300 with a light pressure.

A pressure roll 310 is provided for coacting with the drive roll 298. The roll 310 is rotatably mounted on the end of a lever 312, and a pneumatic actuator 52B (which is identical to actuator 52 is provided for acting on the lever 312 so as to move the roll 310 into a forceful nipped relationship with respect to the roll 298 when the actuator 52B is energized. The actuator 52B is detachably secured to a plate 314 fixed to frame 31.

A card detector 316 is disposed in the path of card movement adjacent to the rolls 298 and 310. This card detector is identical with the card detector 174 previously described.

The print unit 28 comprises three print wheels 318, 320 and 322 which are in alignment with the print rows in the print area of a card 20 as it moves through the machine. The print wheels 318, 320 and 322 are fixed on a shaft 324 which is journaled in the frame 31. A pulley 326 is fixed on the rear end of the shaft 324, and a serrated emitter wheel 328 is fixed on the shaft 324 between the frame 31 and the pulley 326. Magnetic emitters 330 and 332 are disposed in close proximity to the emitter wheel 328 for providing the necessary electrical pulses for causing the proper printing action by the wheels 318, 320 and 322.

A pair of document card drive wheels 334 and 336 are fixed on a shaft 338 that is journaled in a bracket 340 fixed with respect to frame 31. The shaft 338 is connected to be driven from an electric stepper motor 342 fixed with respect to the backbone 31 on its rear side. A pair of pressure rolls 344 and 346 are journaled with respect to a card bed plate 348 and respectively have pressure nips with the rolls 334 and 336. An ink roll 350 disposed in an ink container 352 is held by any suitably means in contact with the print rolls 318, 320, and 322.

Print hammers 354, 356, and 358 are pivotally carried by means of a bracket or carriage 360 and are respectively disposed over the print wheels 318, 320 and 322. Each of the hammers 354, 356, and 358 has an electromagnet 362 connected'with it in such a manner that, when the electromagnet is energized, the corresponding hammer 354, 356 and 358 is pivotally driven into printing relationship with the associated print wheel 318, 320 and 322 and the card 20 disposed between the print wheel and hammer. The bracket 360 carrying the hammers 354, 356 and 358 and the corresponding electromagnets 362 is hingedly mounted with respect to the frame 31 about shafts 364 and 366 provided on a bracket 368 that is fixed with respect to the frame 31. The shaft 366 has a peripheral groove 370 in it, and the bracket 360 has a spring pressed pin 372 in it which is adapted in the free position of the pin 372 to engage with the groove 370 and hold the bracket 360 in place on the shafts 364 and 366. The bracket 360 may be releasably held so that its hammers 354, 356 and 358 are in adjacent positions with respect to the print wheels 318, 320 and 322 by means ofa spring pressed plunger 374 entering a corresponding opening in the bracket 360.

The bracket 360 carries a strip 376 of insulating material provided with contacts 378 which are respectively connected to the electromagnets 362. The strip 376 is received in a socket 380 which is U-shaped in cross section, when the bracket 360 is in its lowered position; and the socket 380 has a U-shaped contact 382 to embrace and engage with each of the contacts 378.

A document card drive roll 384 is provided adjacent the stacker 30 and is fixed onto a shaft 386 that is journaled with respect to the backbone 31. A pressure roll 388 is disposed above the roll 384, and the roll 388 is I mounted on a lever 390 that has a spring 392 effective on it for holding the roll 388 in forceful engagement with the roll 384. A pulley 394 is fixed on the rear end of the shaft 386.

A document card detector 396 (see FIG. 1) is positioned along the card path opposite the rolls 386 and 388 and is fixed to the frame 31. This detector is identical in construction with the document card detector 174.

A stacker-full switch 398 is positioned at the upper end of the stacker 30, and this switch is actuated by means of a strip 400 of flexible material which is actuated by the uppermost cards 20 of a stack of cards in the stacker 30.

The print unit 28, the punch unit 26 and the various document card propelling rolls in the machine are driven from an electric motor 402. The motor 402 has a pulley 404 on its output shaft, and a drive belt 406 extends around the pulley 404 and the pulleys 140, 220, 304, and 394, in addition to idler pulleys 408 and 410.

Air under pressure is supplied to the punch unit 26, the actuators 52, 52A, and 52B, and the document card detectors 174, 316, and 396 from a pump 414 that is located on the rear end of the motor 402. Any suitable air connections, including air plenums and storage compartments, may be used for connecting the pump 414 with these air pressure actuated devices.

In operation, the electric motor 402 drives the pick rolls 42 by means of the belt 406, the pulleys 140 and 142, the belt 143, and the pulley 50. The actuator 52 is caused to be active by the application of an electric voltage to its terminals 105, and the solenoid 104 is then effective to move the armature 106 and valve 108 to the lowermost limits of their movement. Air under pressure is supplied from the pump 414 to the conduits 84 and 86 and thereby to the ports 88 and 90, and the valve 108 in its lowermost position blocks air jetting through the port 90, allowing this air to flow sidewardly through the recess 128 for exhaust. Under these conditions, therefore, no jetted air is supplied through the port 116, the channel 122 and the port 118 onto the diaphragm 68; and the diaphragm 68 is therefore not sealed on the divider 100. Air under pressure is sup plied to the cavity 78 from the conduit 86, and this air under pressure flows from the cavity 92 connected with the conduit 86 and through the cavity 94 to the lower side of the diaphragm 58. The air under pressure applied todiaphragm 58 moves the piston and piston rod 82 upwardly so as to swing the pick roll carrier 46 and pick rolls 42 upwardly for picking a card 20 so as to move the card through the card throat 130 toward the punch station 26.

After the card 20 has moved out of the hopper 24, the solenoid 104 is de-energized; and the armature 106 and valve 108 move upwardly under the action of the magnet 110. In this position of the valve 108, it blocks and diverts the jet of air flowing through the port 88 from the conduit 84, allowing the air to vent upwardly through the recess 126; and the jet of air through the port 90 in this case is directed through the port 1 16, the channel 122 and the port 118 so as to seal the diaphragm 68 onto the divider 100. The flow of air under pressure from the cavity 92 to the cavity 78 and to the diaphragm 58 then ceases. Under the condition when the solenoid 104 is energized so that the valve 108 allows the air jetting through the port 88 to be effective, this air jet is effective through the port 114, the channel 124 and the port onto the diaphragm 68 so as to seal the diaphragm onto the divider 102 whereby air under pressure is maintained in the cavity 78; however, when the air jetting through the port 88 is blocked by the valve 108 in its uppermost position, the diaphragm 68 is unsealed with respect to the divider 102, and the cavity '78 is vented to atmosphere through the cavities 96 and 98 and the recess 112. The piston rod 82 and piston 80 then move back to their original positions under the weight of the carrier 46 and pick rolls 42, with the pick rolls 42 at this time being out of engaging relation with the card 20 on the bottom of the stack of cards in the hopper 24.

As the document card 20 passes through the throat 130, the card is engaged between the rolls 136 and 138. The card 20 is sensed at this time by the card detector 174. The card passes between the frame portions 176 and 180 and blocks the jet of air flowing from port 178 to the port 182. Air under pressure is supplied to the port 178, as it is to the other mechanisms and parts of the machine dependent for operation on pneumatic pressure, from the pump 414. The air pressure applied to the port 182 (when no card 20 is between parts 178 and 182) is effective on the diaphragm 184 through the air conduit 186; and this air pressure holds the diaphragm 184 flexed upwardly so as to complete an electric circuit in the contact board 188 for signalling to the associated electrical control circuitry the fact that no document card 20 is at the detector 174 at the time. When the card 20 blocks this application of air pressure to the port 182 and diaphragm 184 on being fed from hopper 24, the diaphragm 184 returns to its original unflexed condition and breaks the electrical circuit, thus signalling that there is a document card 20 at this time at the position of the detector 174.

The card 20 continues its movement along its card path, and the card is then gripped between the drive roll 154 and the pressure roll 160. The drive roll 154 is driven from the shaft 137, upon which the roll 136 is mounted, by means of the belt 158. The rolls 154 and cause the card 20 to continue its movement. During this movement, the card 20 is held in engagement with the rail 148 by means of the spring 152.

The gate 282 at this time is in engaged condition, magnetically sealed with respect to the parts 192 and 194. Such scaling is by virtue of the action of the electric coil 286 which is energized at this time. The card strikes the gate 282 and is thereby held from further movement at this card registration position although still being urged forwardly by the rolls 154 and 160.

The shaft 218 is driven from the motor 402 by means of the belt 406 passing over the pulley 220, and bail 214 thus continuously reciprocates under the action of the eccentric 216. The drive disk 260 is driven from the shaft 218 by means of the pulley 254, the belt 258 and the pulley 256; and the pin 262 during rotation of the disk 260 engages within the slots in wheel 266 one at a time for incrementing the wheel 266 through portions of a revolution. When the pin 262 is out of engagement with a slot in the wheel 266, the rim 264 is effective to prevent rotation of the wheel 266. The incrementer roll 252 is driven intermittently by means of the wheel 266 with which the roll 252 is connected, and incremental movement of the card 20 through the punch station 26 is attained by energizing the actuator 52A. The actuator 52A is similar to the actuator 52 and is rendered operative by the application of a voltage to its terminals 105.

The coil 286 is de-energized so as to release the gate 282 at the same time as the actuator 52A is energized. The actuator 52A is effective on the lever 274 to swing the lever about its flexure 276 against the action of the spring 278, and the lever 274 with this movement moves the pressure roll 272 into forceful nipped relationship with respect to the incrementer roll 252 which is incrementally driven from the wheel 266. The card 20 is thus incremented through the punch station 26.

Between incremental movements of a card 20 through the punch station 26, the bail 214 moves upwardly. The interposers 202 are held out of operating relationship with the upper edge 222 of the bail 214 by the magnets 204 and 206; and, if the controlling circuitry so directs, the pistons 212 effective on certain ones of the interposers 202 have air pressure from the pump 414 directed to them and are then operative to move these interposers into alignment with the bail edge 222 so that the edge 222 makes contact with the corresponding edges 224 of the interposers and moves these interposers upwardly along with the punches 198 to which these interposers are connected. The punches 198 are then effective to pass through the document card 20 positioned between the stripper 192 and die 194 so as to punch corresponding holes 22 through the card 20. These holes 22 will be in three aligned columns in the punch area of the card 20, for example, columns 1, 33 and 65. These pistons 212 have air under pressure supplied to them through the corresponding air passages 236, and these passages are opened by energization from the controlling circuitry of the corresponding solenoids 232 effective on the associated valves 234. The bail 214, after punching has occurred, is effective through its part 226 to return the previously active punches 198 into their inactive positions; and, after this movement of the punches 198 has occurred, the rolls 252 and 272 are active to move the card 20 into another incremented position in which a like punching action may occur. This punching action in the station 26 continues until all of columns 1-32 and the columns in tiers 2 and 3 aligned therewith have had the appropriate holes 22 punched in them.

As the card 20 is being punched in the station 26, the card enters the nip of the rolls 306 and 300. The roll 300, as well as the roll 298, are driven from the pulley 304 and belt 406; and the roll 300 acts to urge card 20 forwardly due to the action of the pressure roll 306 held by the spring 308 with a relatively low pressure on the card 20. After punching of the card has been completed, the actuator 52B is energized to become effective, and this actuator moves the pressure roll 310 into forceful engagement with the roll 298 through the lever 312. The card 20 is thus propelled forwardly at this time with a continuous movement by the rolls 300 and 298; and this movement is positive since the pressure roll 310 bears with much greater force on the roll 298 than the force with which roll 306 bears on roll 300. The card detector 316, which is in approximate alignment with the rolls 298 and 300, at this time signals the controlling circuitry for the machine that the card 20 is at the position of the detector 316.

The actuator 52B is operative for only a relatively short time, sufficient to start the card 20 moving at high speed after punching has been completed; and during this time, the stepper motor 342 is inactive and the pressure rolls 344 and 346 are stationary. The rolls 300 and 306 complete the movement of the card 20 into engagement in the nips of the rolls 334 and 344 and the rolls 336 and 346 and hold the card 20 from rebound out of these nips. At this time, the stepper motor 342 is energized so as to move the card 20 to align its print positions 1, 33 and 65 respectively with the print wheels 318, 320 and 322. The stepper motor is then stopped so that the card is momentarily stationary; and the corresponding hammers 354, 356 and-358 are actuated by the corresponding magnets 362 so as to cause print positions 1, 33 and 65 to be printed, It will be understood that the print wheels 318, 320 and 322 are continuously revolving at high speeds, and the controlling circuitry is effective so that the hammers 354, 356 and 358 are moved downwardly into printing relation with the 'wheels 318, 320 and 322 and the card 20 at just the proper times so that the proper alphanumeric characters are printed to correspond with the punchings 22 that are in the corresponding punch columns 1, 33 and 65.

After this printing action for columns 1, 33 and 65 is completed, the stepper motor 342 is again energized so as to incrementally rotate the wheels 334 and 336 to move the card 20 to align the next print areas 2, 34 and 66 with the print wheels 318, 320 and 322. Printing of these areas is completed in the same manner as print areas 1, 33 and 65; and, likewise, the printing of the other print areas on the card 20 is accomplished.

After all of the print areas on the card 20 have been printed, the stepper motor 342 is so energized as to continuously move the card 20 out of the print station 28 and into the nip of the rolls 388 and 384. The roll 384 is continuously driven from the pulley 394, and the roll 388 is held in forceful nipped relationship with the roll 384 so that the card 20 is thereby moved into the stacker 30.

All of the cards 20 in the hopper 24 are punched and printed in the same manner and are stacked in the stacker 30. When the stack of cards in stacker 30 eventually reaches the resilient strip 400, they cause the strip 400 to actuate the stacker full switch 398; and the switch 398 is so connected with the controlling circuitry of the machine to cause the machine to cease operation at this time.

The various actuators in the machine may be easily removed from the machine for replacement. The actuator 52 is simply drawn out of its fixture 54 which, due to its own resilience, yieldably holds the actuator 52 in position. The actuators 52A and 52B are suitably held by any releaseable means with respect to the plates 280 and 314, and these actuators may thus be detached from these plates and from the machine. The electricalpneumatic sub-assemblies 228 and 230 may be detached from the remainder of the machine by pushing down on the respective levers 250 so as to swing the associated springs 246 and release them from the fixed pins248 with which they have been engaged; The subassembly 228 or 230 may then be pulled outwardly with respect to the block 200 so as to pull the associated terminal card 238 out of the associated socket 242. The socket 242 normally exerts a compressive force on the card 238 and the strips 240 carried thereby, so this requires some force in making the disengagement. The sub-assembly 228 or 230 in detached condition then appears as in FIG. 17.

If a jamming of cards occurs in the print station 28, or for any other reason it is desired to separate the hammers 354, 356 and 358 with respect to the print wheels 318, 320 and 322, the plunger 374 may be pulled out against its spring action from the corresponding opening in the bracket 360; and the bracket 360 may then be swung upwardly about its shafts 364 and 366. During this swinging action, the strip 376 carrying the contacts 378 disengage with respect to the socket 380 in substantially the same manner as the terminal card 238 has been separated from its socket 242 as previously described. In the event that it is desired to completely remove the bracket 360 along with the hammers 354, 356 and 358 from the remainder of the machine after the bracket 360 has been thus swung upwardly, the spring pressed pin 372 may be thrust inwardly against its spring so as to release it with respect to the groove 370, and the bracket 360 may then be slid outwardly along and out of engagement with the shafts 364 and 366.

The document card punching and printing machine herein disclosed advantageously utilizes air pressure for raising the pick rolls 42, actuating the pressure rolls 272 and 310 and for actuating the interposers 202 for causing punching action. The actual power, therefore, for completing these functions comes from the pump 414, and a relatively small amount of electrical power is required for controlling these functions. The electrical stepper motor 342 is advantageously used in connection with the print unit 28 and particularly with the print wheels 318, 320 and 322 for incrementing the document cards 20 through the print station 28. It is desired that continuous movements of a document card 20 occur at times through the print station 28; and the stepper motor is capable of producing this movement. The stepper motor 342 is also capable of producing a card incrementing action, stepping a card 20 from one print area to the next, with the actual duration of time at which the card stays in the incremented positions varying depending on which of the print characters on the wheels 318, 320 and 322 are to be printed. A maximum printing speed and throughput of cards 20 through the print station 28 is thus attained. This variation of time does not exist with respect to punching; and, therefore, the mechanical incrementing device including the slotted wheel 266 is advantageously used with respect to the punch station 26, since this is a relatively inexpensive unit. Advantageously, all of the various pneumatic actuators, including the actuators 52, 52A and 52B as well as the piston solenoid assemblies 228 and 230, may be easily detached from the machine for easy replacement. The hammers 354, 356 and 358,

together with the solenoids 362 are advantageously mounted on the bracket 360 which swings upwardy about the support shafts 364 and 366 so that if there are any card jams in the print station, the jammed cards may be easily removed.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, except only insofar as the claims may be so limited, as it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is: -l. A machine for punching documentary sheet material comprising;

a punch guide member having a plurality of punches reciprocably disposed therein; a die for receiving said punches; means for transporting the sheet material along the surface of said die so that the punches are effective to punch the sheet material as the punches move into said die; a reciprocating punch propelling member; an interposer for each of said punches and disposed in said guide member and movable to be thrust into operative position between said reciprocable member and the corresponding punch so as to cause punching action by the punch; solenoid piston assembly for actuating said interposers and including a housing, fluid pressure operated pistons extending through a side of said housing so that each piston is effective on one of said interposers, a valve connected by means of a fluid pressure passage with each of said pistons and an electric solenoid effective on each of said valves for actuating the valve; said fluid pressure operated pistons, said valves, said fluid pressure passages and said electric solenoids all being located within said housing and said housing including electric leads connected with said solenoids and a conduit for receiving fluid pressure connected with said valves, said conduit and leads being accessible from the exterior of the housing; and means for detachably securing said housing with respect to said guide member. 2. A machine for punching documentary sheet material comprising:

a punch guide member having a plurality of punches reciprocably disposed therein; a die for receiving said punches; means for transporting the sheet material along the surface of said die so that the punches are effective to punch the sheet material as the punches move into said die; i a reciprocating punch propelling member; an interposer for each of said punches and disposed in said guide member and movable to be thrust into operative position between said reciprocable member and the corresponding punch so as to cause punching action by the punch; a solenoid piston assembly for actuating said interposers, said assembly including a fluid pressure operated piston effective on each of said interposers,

a valve connected by means of a fluid pressure passage with said piston, and

an electric solenoid effective on said valve for actuating the valve; and

means for detachably securing said assembly with respect to said guide member;

said punching machine including an electric plug element and an electric socket element for receiving the plug element, one of said elements being attached to said eolenoid-piston assembly and electrically connected with said solenoids therein and the other of said elements being fixed on said guide member so that said elements are detached with respect to each other when the solenoid-piston assembly is detached with respect to said guide member.

3. A machine for punching documentary sheet material comprising:

a punch guide member having a plurality of punches reciprocably disposed therein;

a die for receiving said punches;

means for transporting the sheet material along the surface of said die so that the punches are effective to punch the sheet material as the punches move into said die;

a reciprocating punch propelling member;

an interposer for each of said punches and disposed in said guide member and movable to be thrust into operative position between said reciprocable member and the corresponding punch so as to cause punching action by the punch;

a solenoid piston assembly for actuating said interposers, said assembly including a fluid pressure operated piston effective on each of said interposers,

a valve connected by means of a fluid pressure passage with said piston, and

an electric solenoid effective on said valve for actuating the valve; and

means for detachably securing said assembly with respect to said guide member,

said means for detachably securing said assembly with respect to said guide member including a pin fixed on said guide member and a manually operated swinging catch mounted on said solenoid piston assembly for engaging with said pin and being disengageable therefrom by swinging movement of the catch.

4. A machine for punching documentary sheet material as set forth in claim 1,

said punching machine including a second solenoid piston assembly similar to said first named solenoid piston assembly and also being detachably secured by its housing with respect to said guide member,

said two solenoid piston assemblies being disposed on opposite sides of said guide member and the pistons thereof being effective on alternate ones of said interposers.

5. A machine for punching documentary sheet material comprising:

a punch guide member having a plurality of punches reciprocably disposed therein;

a die for receiving said punches;

means for transporting the sheet material along the surface of said die so that the punches are effective to punch the sheet material as the punches move into said die;

a reciprocating punch propelling member;

an interposer for each of said punches and disposed in said guide member and movable to be thrust into operative position between said reciprocable member and the corresponding punch so as to cause punching action by the punch;

a solenoid piston assembly for actuating said interposers, said assembly including a fluid pressure operated piston effective on each of said interposers,

a valve connected by means of a fluid pressure passage with said piston, and

an electric solenoid effective on said valve for actuating the valve; and

means for detachably securing said assembly with respect to said guide member,

said sheet material comprising a series of discrete document cards and the machine including a machine frame with respect to which said guide member is mounted, the machine including a document card incrementer roll rotatably mounted with respect to said frame,

means for driving the roll in rotational increments,

a pressure roll adapted to have a forceful nipped relationship with respect to said incrementer roll for incrementing a document card across the surface of said die and into and out of punching relationship with respect to said punches,

means for moving said pressure roll into and out of nipped relationship with respect to said incrementer roll for incrementing a document card as aforesaid and including a pneumatic actuator,

a source of pneumatic pressure connected with said actuator and with said solenoid piston assembly, and

means for detachably mounting said actuator with respect to said frame.

6. A machine for punching documentary sheet material as set forth in claim 5, and including a document card drive roll positioned downstream in the direction of card movement from said punches,

means for rotatably driving said drive roll,

a pressure roll movable into and out of nipped relationship with respect to said drive roll for rendering the drive roll effective or ineffective on a document card,

means for moving said last named pressure roll into and out of nipped relationship with respect to said drive roll and including a pneumatic actuator connected with said source of pneumatic pressure, and

means for detachably mounting said last named actuator with respect to said machine frame.

* l III 

1. A machine for punching documentary sheet material comprising: a punch guide member having a plurality of punches reciprocably disposed therein; a die for receiving said punches; means for transporting the sheet material along the surface of said die so that the punches are effective to punch the sheet material as the punches move into said die; a reciprocating punch propelling member; an interposer for each of said punches and disposed in said guide member and movable to be thrust into operative position between said reciprocable member and the corresponding punch so as to cause punching action by the punch; a solenoid piston assembly for actuating said interposers and including a housing, fluid pressure operated pistons extending through a side of said housing so that each piston is effective on one of said interposers, a valve connected by means of a fluid pressure passage with each of said pistons and an electric solenoid effective on each of said valves for actuating the valve; said fluid pressure operated pistons, said valves, said fluid pressure passages and said electric solenoids all being located within said housing and said housing including electric leads connected with said solenoids and a conduit for receiving fluid pressure connected with said valves, said conduit and leads being accessible from the exterior of the housing; and means for detachably securing said housing with respect to said guide member.
 2. A machine for punching documentary sheet material comprising: a punch guide member having a plurality of punches reciprocably disposed therein; a die for receiving said punches; means for transporting the sheet material along the surface of said die so that the punches are effective to punch the sheet material as the punches move into said die; a reciprocating punch propelling member; an interposer for each of said punches and disposed in said guide member and movable to be thrust into operative position between said reciprocable member and the corresponding punch so as to cause punching action by the punch; a solenoid piston assembly for actuating said interposers, said assembly including a fluid pressure operated piston effective on each of said interposers, a valve connected by means of a fluid pressure passage with said piston, and an electric solenoid effective on said valve for actuating the valve; and means for detachably securing said assembly with respect to said guide member; said punching machine including an electric plug element and an electric socket element for receiving the plug element, one of said elements being attached to said eolenoid-piston assembly and electrically connected with said solenoids therein and the other of said elements being fixed on said guide member so that said elements are detached with respect to each other when the solenoid-piston assembly is detached with respect to said guide member.
 3. A machine for punching documentary sheet material comprising: a punch guide member having a plurality of punches reciprocably disposed therein; a die for receiving said punches; means for transporting the sheet material along the surface of said die so that the punches are effective to punch the sheet material as the punches move into said die; a reciprocating punch propelling member; an interposer for each of said punches and disposed in said guide member and movable to be thrust into operative position between said reciprocable member and the corresponding punch So as to cause punching action by the punch; a solenoid piston assembly for actuating said interposers, said assembly including a fluid pressure operated piston effective on each of said interposers, a valve connected by means of a fluid pressure passage with said piston, and an electric solenoid effective on saId valve for actuating the valve; and means for detachably securing said assembly with respect to said guide member, said means for detachably securing said assembly with respect to said guide member including a pin fixed on said guide member and a manually operated swinging catch mounted on said solenoid piston assembly for engaging with said pin and being disengageable therefrom by swinging movement of the catch.
 4. A machine for punching documentary sheet material as set forth in claim 1, said punching machine including a second solenoid piston assembly similar to said first named solenoid piston assembly and also being detachably secured by its housing with respect to said guide member, said two solenoid piston assemblies being disposed on opposite sides of said guide member and the pistons thereof being effective on alternate ones of said interposers.
 5. A machine for punching documentary sheet material comprising: a punch guide member having a plurality of punches reciprocably disposed therein; a die for receiving said punches; means for transporting the sheet material along the surface of said die so that the punches are effective to punch the sheet material as the punches move into said die; a reciprocating punch propelling member; an interposer for each of said punches and disposed in said guide member and movable to be thrust into operative position between said reciprocable member and the corresponding punch so as to cause punching action by the punch; a solenoid piston assembly for actuating said interposers, said assembly including a fluid pressure operated piston effective on each of said interposers, a valve connected by means of a fluid pressure passage with said piston, and an electric solenoid effective on said valve for actuating the valve; and means for detachably securing said assembly with respect to said guide member, said sheet material comprising a series of discrete document cards and the machine including a machine frame with respect to which said guide member is mounted, the machine including a document card incrementer roll rotatably mounted with respect to said frame, means for driving the roll in rotational increments, a pressure roll adapted to have a forceful nipped relationship with respect to said incrementer roll for incrementing a document card across the surface of said die and into and out of punching relationship with respect to said punches, means for moving said pressure roll into and out of nipped relationship with respect to said incrementer roll for incrementing a document card as aforesaid and including a pneumatic actuator, a source of pneumatic pressure connected with said actuator and with said solenoid piston assembly, and means for detachably mounting said actuator with respect to said frame.
 6. A machine for punching documentary sheet material as set forth in claim 5, and including a document card drive roll positioned downstream in the direction of card movement from said punches, means for rotatably driving said drive roll, a pressure roll movable into and out of nipped relationship with respect to said drive roll for rendering the drive roll effective or ineffective on a document card, means for moving said last named pressure roll into and out of nipped relationship with respect to said drive roll and including a pneumatic actuator connected with said source of pneumatic pressure, and means for detachably mounting said last named actuator with respect to said machine frame. 